Metal spoke and its manufacture



Apri l 8, 1930. EH. ARNOLD METAL POKE AND ITS MANUFACTURE I INVENTORErnestHAmoZd Original Filed Dec. 10, 1925 BY /ATIORNEY Fatentecl Apr. 81936 PATENT OFFICE ERNEST H. ARNOLD, or CLEVELAND, OHIO METAL SPOKE ANDITS MANUFACTURE Application filed December 10, 1925, Serial No. 74,509;Renewed August 30, 1929.

This invention relates to metal wheels and their manufacture, andconcerns more especially the manufacture of integral spokes of thetubular form and particularly the fashioning of the inner ends of hollowmetal spokes into the final form desired to fit the.

and then fashioned into the usual Wedgeshape without separating any partof the tube from the outer portion and without de stroying its relationas an'integral part of the spoke unit. 7 It is a further objectof myinvention to manufacture a hollow metal spoke from metal plate, thefinal product being integral,

and fashion the inner portion of the hollow spoke end into wedge-shapedformation without weakening the material in any point whatever, andindeed strengthening the hub end of the spoke as a complete unit.

It is a further object of my invention to reduce and simplify theoperations required to manufacture the completed spoke, and especiallytosimplify the operations essential for fashioning the hub end of thespoke,

and thus to decrease the expense of'manufacture of the finished wheel.

.With these and otherobjects in View, my invention consists of theoperations, methods and products described in the specification, recitedin the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal section of a one-piece metalproduct for producing a spoke;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the plane indicated by theline 22 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 1, of a modifiedform of inner end thereof, parts being broken away to reduce space;

Figure 4 is a transverse section takenon the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Figure5 is a longitudinal section of the mid part of a modified form of spoke;

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on the line 6;6. of Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a View of anothermodification; vFigure 8 is a transverse,section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7; Figure v9 is an end View of thehub portion of the spoke shown in Fig. 8 with an illustration of thetucking elements applied to the material; v v

Figure 10 is a transverse section taken on the line 101 O of Fig. 11;

Figure llis a sectional view similar to that in Fig. 3, of a seamedspoke upon which my improved operations of tucking the hub portion arebeing accomplished;

Figure'12is a transverse section on the line v12 12 of Fig. 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective viewshowing the tucking operations beingperformed on the character of spoke element shown Figs. 3 and 4;

leted operation of tucking as applied to the orm of spoke element shownin Figs. 1 and 2;

Figure '15 is an end view of a spoke formed 7 of welded sections andtucked-in as inthe product of Fig. 14, and

Figure 16 is an end viewofa spoke formed of seamed sections as from theform of product shownin Figs. 10,11 and 12.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a hollow metalspoke'product having in most cases one closedend llvwhich is intended tobe locked to the wheel rim, but the latter not being speciallyillustrated since it will not be claimed in this application. The inneror hub end 6 of the spoke element is open as shown in Fig. 1 and will bepreferably non-circular more often substantially quadrilateral, andusually substantially rec'- tangular as shown in section in Figs. 2 or4.

Figure 14 is a perspective view of'the com In manufacturing my integralmetal spoke, I shape the inner or hub endtoenlarged and usuallynon-circular cross section"v as a preparatorystep in forming thewedge-shape contour for making effective and close the assemblage of theseveral spokes in the finished wheel. The hub end will therefore atfirst have the form of an enlarged tubular element having substantiallyequal size at its ends, as made clear in the view in Fig. 1. Thefollowing step in the formation of the wedge-shaped portion of the spokeconsists, then, in reducing the size of one of these ends, and I preferto do this without making any cuts or slits in the walls of suchenlarged end, and also without making it necessary to the proper shapingof this part that the outer surface of said part shall lose its generalappearance after the shaping step, and also that the shaping operationshall even strengthen the walls of the finished hub portion of the spoketo better resist the forces that act so powerfully against the normalposition which the spoke ordinarily assumes. v To accomplish this finalshaping of the hub end of'the spokes of this form and material, I havediscovered that it can be most effectively and most advantageously doneby applying inward-pressing forces at the corners of elongated forms, asthey result in a cross-sectional view of the hub portion of the spoke,such forces being applied at equidistant 'points if the crosssection iscircular, and at the points of greatest curvature when the section issubstantially quadilateral or rectangular.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 14, the hub end 6 of the spoke element 5 is shownsubstantially rectangular in cross section, though the main body of thespoke is circular in cross section, the circular portiongraduallyshading into the form of the hub end at the point 12. It is to beunderstood that the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 9, 13 and 14 have beenproduced by shaping, from a flat metal sheet, thereby resulting in theclosed end 11. This is 'eX- plained to make clearer the nature of theoperations performed on the product shown in thos views.

The fashioning operations performed on the hub ends 7 of the spokesshown in Figs. 3 and 4, are quite similar to the others such a's'thoseperformed upon the ends 8 of the spoke shown in Fig. 6. The steps ofsuch shaping methods may also be performed upon the circular hub ends 9,shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, as will be made plain later in describing mymethod.

Referring now to the hub end 7 in Figs. 3 and 4, as a type for purposesof illustration only, my method of shaping the substantially rectangularend 7 which in Fig. 3 is shown as fairly uniform throughout itslength,or at least to within a short distance of the point 12where the mainbody 5 of the spoke begins, consists of applying inwardly-directed forceat the several angles of the hub end 7 to fold or tuck inwardly at 13,portions of the metal 'at such angles or curves. It is,howev'er,

a matter of great importance that this tucking force is not applied atthese angles at equal intensity throughout the length of the resultingfold or tuck, nor are such forces applied on a line parallel with theaxis of the spoke or hub end, but, on the contrary, these forces areapplied on lines which tend to separate at their ends nearer the closedend of the spoke 11, and would, if sufficiently produced in the oppositedirection, intersect at a point or points beyond the open end 14 of thespoke. V

In Fig. 13, I have shown in dotted lines what may be properly termedtines or forks 15 which are each approximately triangular in crosssection. The apex 16 of the triangle serves as the elongated edge of thetine or blade which latter is designed to sink into the metal at thebefore-mentioned curves or angles of the hub end 7 to form the saidtucks 13. These edges 16 face diagonally inward, the triangle base 17being outward. The various tines or forks 15 are preferably supportedupon a common element which will never contact the spoke member, sincethe four tines spreading slightly outward from their common supportmember, will have folded or tucked in the material of the spoke to thelimit desired before the support reaches the spoke. It will, therefore,be seen that the longitudinal'movement of the support with its tinescarried thereby in the general direction of the axis of the spoke andtoward the closed end of the latter, will result in a tucking-inoperation on the material at the angles of the hub end.

Figs. 4, 6, 8 and 12 of the drawings show in dotted lines the folds thatare about to be formed inwardly by the closer approach of the tines toeach other as they move longitudinally of the spoke, until the outerends of the tines 15 finally reach the extreme end of the enlarged orhub end where the spoke becomes gradually reduced at 12 to the body 5 ofthe spoke. In Fig. 13, the folds 15 are .gradually reducing the end 7 tothe wedgeshape required for assemblage in the hub of the wheel. In Fig.14, the tucks 13 have been folded into plaits 18 within the enlargedspoke ends. width at the open ends 14 and fading away to slight width atthe points 12, the resulting end of the spoke will be wedgeshaped, asbefore stated.

It is to be noted that this folding operation may be used for folding inthe material to form plaits having different Widths throughout theirlength, when operating upon open-end spokes such as 19 shown in Fig. 11,as well as closed-end spokes, and that the same or kindred operationsmay be performed upon spoke ends though the spokes maybe seamed at 20,as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12 and 16; or welded at 21 as shown in Fig. 15of the drawings.

These plaits being of greatest 7 Assuming, therefore, that the spokeshave been shaped to the forms shown in Figs. 12, 34, 56, or 78'101211(as shown in full lines), the next step is the plaiting or tucking-in atthe corners as above described in detail, to reduce the hub end of thespokes to the wedge-shape of Figs.'18 and 9; and also in dotted lineillustration in other views, after which the sides are flattened byexertion of external pressure thereon as shown diagrammatically inthedotted lines a of Fig. 9. Such pressure externally reduces the hubend of the spokes to the rectangular shape in cross section, as shown inFigs. 14, 15 and 16.

The above-recited steps in my mproved operations results in a finishedspoke having, 1f deslred, a closed outer end for attachment with the rimor felloe, and in every case, an

time strengthens the product.

It is to be noted that these spokes are not drawn, in the ordinary senseof the termthe thickness of the material is substantially uniformthroughout the product, both at the inner end, after the wedge-shape isproduced, as well as at the outer or rim end where attachment is madewith the rim or felloe. portance upon the production of the plaits 18 toshape the hub end, for the purpose of creating greater resistance tostrain at these points. My improved shaping steps referred to in thisapplication 'hasto do with tucking or folding operations whichmanipulate the material but do not stretch the same so as to result inthin portions of the fabric and consequent weakened sections of theproduct. It is by no means, therefore, without interest that the wallsof the spoke and parts thereof, as illustrated in the drawings, areshown as having uniform thickness. This feature is the result of my newand improved method which embodies therein a series of shaping steps notincluding any stretching strains.

A further observation is here made as to the novel steps in the shapingof the material when finishing the operations in producing the spoke ofthe particular contour required to attach to the felloe band and to thehub. It is quite immaterial what the character of the plait shall takeon the inner cavity of the finished spoke. The numeral 13 is used tomerely designate the approximate shape the plaits will at first assumeThis fact places the greater im-.

when the blades 15 or tines, or whatever agency is employed to exertinward pressure at the angles of the-hub portion of the unfinishedspoke, are pressed inwardly. Later when pressure is exerted at theplanes indicated in Fig. 9 by the dotted lines a, these tucks or folds13 will tend to close substan ever hub end in which they are formed.

The use of these plaits for shaping the metal in the hub ends of theseseamless (if desired), and integral spokes, make possible wide variationof hub size and relative depth of hub wall, as well as wide variation inthe number of spokes it may be desired to .use. Themere variation in thedepth of the plaits 18, which will depend, of course, upon the distancethe inward pressure will be exerted at 13, will vary correspondingly theangle of the wed e of each s oke and havin once determined the saiddistance to use, the angle mentioned will be thereafter positivelyuni:

form, thus making quite ready and certain any desired adjustment of theshape of the wedge part of the spoke at the same time reducing the'costof manufacture while enabling productionof a number of'standard sizesand angles of the hub end of spokes with certainty of preservation ofeach type in exact formation designed they should have. s

Spokes manufactured in' the manner here described, are adapted to beassembled in the wheel hub in the same manner that other spokes of thisrather standard shape are. For example, wooden spokes or metal spokesthat are formed from metal portions having their edges welded or seamedtogether, would be assembled in the ordinary type of wheel hub in aboutthe same'way that my integral metal spoke would be secured. The holes 22are provided for receiving therein the trans verse bolts for securingthe spokes in the hub, as usual.

WVhat I claim and ters Patent is- 1. A tubular metal wheel spoke havingan open-end enlarged extension head rectangular in cross section, thecorners of the head being reinforced by inturned plaits of its ownmaterial.

2. A tubular metal wheel spoke comprising a wedge-shaped hub portionhaving parallel sides lateral of, the'wheel and flatin desire to secureby Let clined sides transverse of the wheel, the corners of the'headbeing reinforced by inturned plaits of its own materiaL 4;. Atubularmetal wheel spoke having a wedge-shaped head having its fourfaces of each flat and smooth,.and the faces lateral of thewheelparallel, and the corners of the head being reinforced longitudinally byinturned plaits of varying width decreasing from the inner end of thespoke to the union of the head with the said body portion.

'6. The method of making a metal vehicle wheel spoke comprising,providing a tubular body with an open-end enlarged extension therefromon an axis in alinement with that of the said body, tucking in thematerial of the said extension on four lines spaced in pairs in saidextension longitudinal of the spoke and to varying depth decreasing fromthe open end outwardly, and exerting inward pressure at the externalsurfaces of the extension between the lines of each pair and between thepairs and on substantially longitudinal planes to result in a hub end ofthe spoke having uniform width transverse of the wheel but taperedinwardly in the plane of the wheel.

' 7 The method of making an all-metal vehicle wheel spoke having afrusto-pyramidal hub end comprising, providing a tubular body with anopen end enlarged extension there- ,from on an axis in alinement withthat of the said body, tucking in the material of the said extension onspaced lines where the cor- A fner edges of the frusto-pyramid are to bepositioned longitudinal of the spoke and to varying depth decreasingfrom the open end outwardly to form internal plaits, and pressinginwardly the external surfaces of the extension between the said plaitsand on planes two of which are parallel and other two of which intersectwhen produced, to close the plaits and result in a prismatic hub end ofthe spoke having opposite and fiat parallel sides lateral of the wheel,but wedge-shaped vin the, plane of the wheel.

8. The method of making a tubular spoke I comprising, shaping a thinmetal plate into an elongated hollow form including a cylindrical bodyhaving a closed end and an open end, the latter being an enlargedextension of the cylindrical body, and having an axis alining with thatof the cylinder, tucking in metal on four spaced lines in said extensionlongitudinal of the spoke and to varying close said folds and result ina prismatic hub end of the spoke having opposite and flat parallel sideslateral of the wheel, but wedgeshaped in the plane of the wheel.

9. The method of making a metal wheel spoke comprising, providing atubular body with anopen-end tubular enlarged extension on an axis inalinement with that of the body part, tucking in the stock of saidextension at spaced portions thereof on lines longitudinal of the spoke,forming plaits of said material of uniformly varying depth decreasingfrom the extreme end of the extension to zero where the extensionbecomes integral with the body part, and pressing the outer surfaces ofthe extension inwardly between said lines and in planes to reduce thesaid extension to wedge-shape in the plane of the wheel, and at the sametime reinforce the extension at its angular portions without deformingthe sides thereof.

10. The method of forming a wedge-shaped hub portion on a hollow metaltubular product having an enlarged extension rectangular in crosssection, and in alinement with the axis of the product comprising,tucking in metal on four lines positioned at the corners of saidextension longitudinal of the tube and to varying depth decreasing fromthe end of the extension outwardly toward the tube, and pressinginwardly the surfaces of the extension on planes two of which areparallel and other two of which intersect when produced, to close saidfolds and result in a prismatic hub end of the spoke having oppositeflat parallel sides lateral of the wheel, but wedge-shaped in the planeof the wheel when the product isto be used as a spoke.

11. The method of making a metal vehicle wheel spoke comprising,providing a tubular body with an open-end enlarged extension therefromon an axis in alinement with that of the said body, tucking in thematerial of the said extension on four lines spaced in pairs in saidextension longitudinal of the spoke and to varying depth decreasing fromthe open end outwardly, and exerting inward pressure at the externalsurfaces of the extension'between the lines of each pair and between thepairs to close the said tucked-in portions and result in a hub end ofthe spoke having uniform width transverse of the wheel but taperedinwardly in the plane of the wheel.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

ERNEST H. ARNOLD.

